The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-03-10
TRANSFAAL GOLD FIELDS.
THE RICHEST FIND In THE
WORLD.
Much Rejoicing Over the Passage
OF the Experiment Station Bill
New Ordnance.

Cultuihl CbiAtkCb Az ihuh ONCA alp " /
ing their flags and people who are in
terested in them are rejoicing in con-
sequence Of the passage OF the expert.
ment station bill, but a question has
arisen which would appear to indicate
that the demonstrations are prema-
ture. The fifth section OF the bill,
the Only one relating TO appropriations
says "the sum OF $4,000 is hereby APP
propristed to zach State tc be specially
provided for by Congress In tn ir ap
propriatiops from year to year from
the sales Of public lands, the first pay
ment to be made on the iist day OF
October, 1887" This singular phrase
ology has been held TO be an appro-
priation clause, but a close inspection
OF il has given rise to doubts, The
weight OF official opinion being that
no money is appropriated. If this is
sustained by the authorities the begin
ming OF the new work will be delayed
until Congress acts further.
THE TRANsvAAL GOLD FIELDS.
Vice Consul Knight repor 8 to the
Department Of State concerning the
TIanevsal gold fields that the wonder
fol Shelba reef had been eclipsed by
another reef discovered last summer,
ana known as tie Thomas reef, from
which, samples Of quartz weighing 5000
pounds, IL Ia claimed, yielded l4S
ounces OF go d. These discoveries
naturally gave an impetus to prospect
pecting on a large scale resulting in
the discovery Of marvellously ex.en-
sive and rich god quartz veins. The
Vice Consul says that he believes,
after making inquiry and from the
beat information o~btainable, that the
Transvaal fields, when fully developed, |
will prove among the richest 10 the
world. Recent discoveries have natur-
ally given rise to no end OF specula-
ton and mining ventures, and a great
rush Of capitalists, miners and I'D.
venturerS has set In for The fislds.
Near the Shelba reef a city, BarbeIton,
has sprung up as II by magic, number
ing already 1000 to 5000 population,
and Ia rapidly increasing. The report
concludes by C~autioning persons with
out means not 10 venture into the gold
ountry unless they be thoroughly
practical miners, rs the conditions ex-
istipg are very hard, and many will
be doomed to bitter disappointment.
THE ORDNANCE CORPS dRATIFlED.
The officers OF the ordnance corps
are very much gratiied with the per-
foTmanCe OF the new eight inch steel
rife, now being tested at Sandy Hook.
This gun was built at West Point
foundry Of EBglieh and domestic steel.
Thirty test rounds have been fred and
the trial will be continued during the
summer, With a shot weighing 2S9
POUNDS and a charge of American
brown powder, the initial velocity Of
the projec lie was 1875 feet, and the
energy developed at a distance of 100
yards equal 10 1000 foot TONS. Gen.
benet says these results have been
carefully compared with the records of
trials Of the new navy gun, and Kru op,
English aud French guns Of the same
caliber, and establishes the fact that
che army eight inch steel rifle is fully
equal to the naval gun, and better
than guns OF corresponding caliber
made by foreign manufacturers.
Touching the failure OF Congress to
pass a fortlfieat on appropriation bill,
General Benst, the Chief OF Ordnance,
today said that the result is to leave
the Notification and ordnance works
In a wo'se shape than they were after
the adjournment last session. AT
that time there were n few flag erds OF
appropriations available, but now the
Ordnance Buresu and tire Engineer
Corps must come to a full stop, 30 far
as concerns the construction If guus
and fortifi cations, "The Engineer
Corps," said the General, "has about
surrendered it's military functions and
has been resolved into a body OF civil
ians, devotiug all its time to river aud
hRrbor Improvements. Two twelve
inch riled cannon, cast iron strength
ened with steel, have been laying for
months incomp e'e in the South Bos-
ton shops, Congress having failed to
reappTopr ate a sufficient sum OF
mon out of the amount already au.
thorised TO he expend, d, to put them
In serviceahle condition"
THR ENGLISH TRAITOR BUSINESS A HOAX,
relative to the reported dismissal Of a
foreman in the English naval work
shops at Chatam, for selling inIorma
ton, plans Of vessels, ~torpsdnes, etc
to this gov rumant. II Is said at the
Navy d partmsnt that 30 fAr as this
government is concerned, there is alb
Bolutely no ruth in the charge. la
this connection the fact Ia recalled that
Capt. ii chborue published a worH
about a year aga on"Briti ih ID cks anG
Dock Yards" which II was said con-
tanned information furHisntd him In
confidence and not for publication.
subsequently tho author explained
the facts satisfactorily bat il Ia possible
that the discharge of che fore man Just
reported is a re.uIt Of Capt. HIGH
borne's publication.
NO EXTRA SESSION.
Democratic members of Congress
aud others who have access to the
President and means OF kno edge on
the subj act, do not believe tia there
is n possibility OF an extra session OF
Congress now. The prevalent i'm
preston, as gathered by an Associated
Press Iepor eT from members Of Con-
gress, 10 that the Flitieth Congress will
be called together in the fall, perhaps
In October, in order that some OF the
important legislation to come befora IL
may be IN tlred early. 1t ia a well
known fact That Oougres, scarcely ave.
does any busine until after The Holt
day recess La view of the fact that the
questions of avenue taxation, of forth
hcations and Others OF great publ. in
terest mus receive attention the next
session, it ia thought the President.
will Gail y se,sion to begin in the fall
and that il will run along into the
regular session.
MR.. o'NE1LJ, CHAIRMAN
OF the House Labor Committee, said
today that he was greatly dlesat'sf d
with the resu I Of the sessions work.
AS a rssu t of 40 years hard work
we have practic lily accomplish, d
nothing OF value in the interest of
labor. The two important bills that
we were working on-lhat 10 prohibit
the importation of alien laUor, and
the labor admiration bill-which got
through both houses, have failed OF
Az. ntu,.t,,a 80 tho D..r.la